Jimcs50
10-25-2006, 10:56 AM
Oct. 25, 2006, 1:14AM
Return of the big back
Jorvorskie Lane followed Ja'Mar Toombs to Texas A&M, now the sophomore has become a better version of his role model
By TERRANCE HARRIS
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
COLLEGE STATION - While keeping track of his alma mater, Ja'Mar Toombs has heard the comparisons to sophomore Texas A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane.
Toombs said he sees a lot of himself in the way Lane rumbles his 278-pound frame downfield, leaving flattened defenders in his wake.
"You look at our sizes, look at what I did and what he's doing," said Toombs, who was featured in the A&M backfield as a 270-pound back from 1998-2000. "I think it's no doubt that we are the same type of running back.
"He runs over people, picks up the short yardage, wears defenses down and has deceptive-looking speed."
Lane also has broken the mold for his position.
"He doesn't look like he can be a halfback," Toombs said, "but if you sleep on him, he has quick feet, and he has the speed, and he's elusive."
It's a comparison that has been made since the day Lane stepped on campus last year. It has been given legs by Lane's and Toombs' similar statures, success on the field and an almost cult-like following both have enjoyed.
When Toombs entered games at Kyle Field, calls of "Toooooooombs!" rang out. These days the fans grunt "J-Train!"
Lane seems to enjoy the attention, and he has embraced comparisons to Toombs, whom he considers an inspiration.
"During the time he was playing, I was looking at him and saying 'This boy can't be stopped,' " said Lane, who was hammering defenders in middle school in Lufkin during Toombs' A&M days. "And ever since then, he was big and I was on the verge of being big, so I put it in my mind that I can't be stopped, either."
Bruising runners
The similarities encompass the backs' size, short-yardage abilities, quicker-than-expected feet and desire to run over opponents.
All indications are that Lane has a chance to be a more complete back in Dennis Franchione's spread-option attack than Toombs was under then-head coach R.C. Slocum.
Lane is at his best and most powerful between the tackles; speed backs Michael Goodson and Courtney Lewis handle the perimeter running.
But there have been more than a few sightings of Lane taking the ball to the outside and making a defender miss before popping a linebacker.
One-hand wonder
Last weekend, he had a spectacular, one-handed catch on a fourth-and-13 situation. Lane had to twist, reach and then recover for a 17-yard pickup that was key in the 34-33 overtime win over Oklahoma State.
Lane leads A&M with 501 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns (also an NCAA high) on 112 carries.
Toombs was more of a one-trick pony who got valuable short yardage. Every now and then he could break the long one.
"He's doing it a lot better than I did," said Toombs, who finished with 1,360 yards and 26 touchdowns. "Look at his consistency. I would say he is their main guy on offense.
"I wasn't the main guy. I was just a fixture. It's just about opportunity."
Lane appears to be making the most of his chance. He has used his gifts to become a force out the backfield, especially in must-have yardage situations.
None was bigger than two weeks ago against Missouri. The Aggies used Lane as the ultimate keep-away instrument in the fourth quarter. Lane picked up tough yards, converting first downs on his way to 127 yards rushing and a career-high 27 carries.
"He's the most amazing big athlete I've ever coached," Lufkin High coach John Outlaw said. "I've got six of them in the NFL right now, and he's the most amazing athlete I've ever coached."
Second effort
Franchione agrees after watching Lane break 18 tackles while gaining 70 of his yards after initial hits by Missouri, which was ranked 10th in the nation against the run at the time.
He watched Lane follow that up a week later with some nifty receiving skills against the Cowboys.
"Jorvorskie is an amazing athlete, he really is," Franchione said. "He's got amazing feet, and now he's got amazing hands."
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Return of the big back
Jorvorskie Lane followed Ja'Mar Toombs to Texas A&M, now the sophomore has become a better version of his role model
By TERRANCE HARRIS
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
COLLEGE STATION - While keeping track of his alma mater, Ja'Mar Toombs has heard the comparisons to sophomore Texas A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane.
Toombs said he sees a lot of himself in the way Lane rumbles his 278-pound frame downfield, leaving flattened defenders in his wake.
"You look at our sizes, look at what I did and what he's doing," said Toombs, who was featured in the A&M backfield as a 270-pound back from 1998-2000. "I think it's no doubt that we are the same type of running back.
"He runs over people, picks up the short yardage, wears defenses down and has deceptive-looking speed."
Lane also has broken the mold for his position.
"He doesn't look like he can be a halfback," Toombs said, "but if you sleep on him, he has quick feet, and he has the speed, and he's elusive."
It's a comparison that has been made since the day Lane stepped on campus last year. It has been given legs by Lane's and Toombs' similar statures, success on the field and an almost cult-like following both have enjoyed.
When Toombs entered games at Kyle Field, calls of "Toooooooombs!" rang out. These days the fans grunt "J-Train!"
Lane seems to enjoy the attention, and he has embraced comparisons to Toombs, whom he considers an inspiration.
"During the time he was playing, I was looking at him and saying 'This boy can't be stopped,' " said Lane, who was hammering defenders in middle school in Lufkin during Toombs' A&M days. "And ever since then, he was big and I was on the verge of being big, so I put it in my mind that I can't be stopped, either."
Bruising runners
The similarities encompass the backs' size, short-yardage abilities, quicker-than-expected feet and desire to run over opponents.
All indications are that Lane has a chance to be a more complete back in Dennis Franchione's spread-option attack than Toombs was under then-head coach R.C. Slocum.
Lane is at his best and most powerful between the tackles; speed backs Michael Goodson and Courtney Lewis handle the perimeter running.
But there have been more than a few sightings of Lane taking the ball to the outside and making a defender miss before popping a linebacker.
One-hand wonder
Last weekend, he had a spectacular, one-handed catch on a fourth-and-13 situation. Lane had to twist, reach and then recover for a 17-yard pickup that was key in the 34-33 overtime win over Oklahoma State.
Lane leads A&M with 501 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns (also an NCAA high) on 112 carries.
Toombs was more of a one-trick pony who got valuable short yardage. Every now and then he could break the long one.
"He's doing it a lot better than I did," said Toombs, who finished with 1,360 yards and 26 touchdowns. "Look at his consistency. I would say he is their main guy on offense.
"I wasn't the main guy. I was just a fixture. It's just about opportunity."
Lane appears to be making the most of his chance. He has used his gifts to become a force out the backfield, especially in must-have yardage situations.
None was bigger than two weeks ago against Missouri. The Aggies used Lane as the ultimate keep-away instrument in the fourth quarter. Lane picked up tough yards, converting first downs on his way to 127 yards rushing and a career-high 27 carries.
"He's the most amazing big athlete I've ever coached," Lufkin High coach John Outlaw said. "I've got six of them in the NFL right now, and he's the most amazing athlete I've ever coached."
Second effort
Franchione agrees after watching Lane break 18 tackles while gaining 70 of his yards after initial hits by Missouri, which was ranked 10th in the nation against the run at the time.
He watched Lane follow that up a week later with some nifty receiving skills against the Cowboys.
"Jorvorskie is an amazing athlete, he really is," Franchione said. "He's got amazing feet, and now he's got amazing hands."
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